- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe 2018 Anne Arundel County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was released today. The comprehensive, data-driven report, which identifies the health needs of the community, is a collaboration between the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel County YWCA, and Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. As a mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the assessment presents data and key factors impacting the health of county residents and serves as the foundation for strategic planning for local hospitals and public health agencies. “Improving the health and well-being of our communities is the driving force of every organization involved in this report. The information from the CHNA helps us to guide our efforts to address the health needs and disparities in our county,” said Acting Anne Arundel County Health Officer Billie Penley. The CHNA examines a variety of health and behavioral indicators, including social determinants of health (such as poverty, housing, and education), mortality rates, high risk behaviors (alcohol and tobacco use), and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. The 2018 report identified mental health, substance abuse, access to care, and chronic disease as health priorities for the county. The report also shares principal findings such as an increase in county residents classified as obese, the growth of the Hispanic population, the lack of public transportation, homelessness, and the impact of social media on mental health. “The Community Health Needs Assessment provides an opportunity to further our mission of enhancing the health of the people we serve,” said Deneen Richmond, vice president of population health and clinical improvement at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “The last assessment prompted us to solidify our palliative care program and work on better care coordination for patients. This important assessment impacts real change to better health care in our community.” “The CHNA provides critical insight into the health needs and concerns of county residents. Its findings have led to increased focus on areas of highest need in our community, such as mental health and the opioid use,” says Becky Paesch, vice president of physician services at UM BWMC. “We will continue to use the findings identified through the CHNA to make sure we are moving in the right direction.”0
- SleepGeneral Page Tier 3BlogNot getting a good night’s sleep can compromise your brain performance, mood, and health. Plus, you just won’t feel great the next day. The American Medical Association says approximately 30 million Americans have sleep apnea—a condition that interferes with sleep—but only 6 million are diagnosed with it. Sleep apnea can be a significant, potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. While snoring is annoying and can signal apnea, sleep apnea itself can halt breathing partially or completely—from ten seconds to over a minute at a time—and that adds up. This can happen from five to more than 100 times an hour during sleep. As a result, oxygen levels in the bloodstream fall, which may lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, or abnormal heart rhythms. These disrupted normal sleep stages leave you unrefreshed and may also negatively impact your memory. Types of Sleep Apnea There are three types: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This very common sleep disorder occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses (it relaxes when you sleep) and partially or completely blocks the airway. Air can’t enter the lungs and airway blockage can happen a few times, or several hundred times, per night. Central sleep apnea (CSA): This less common type occurs when the brain fails to tell the lungs to breathe during sleep. When the signal is lost, the lungs don’t intake the oxygen the body needs. Mixed or complex sleep apnea: You experience both obstructive and central events on the same night. Symptoms An individual with apnea may experience: Loud, irregular snoring Gasping and snorting after pauses in breathing Excessive daytime sleepiness Morning headaches Weight gain or obesity Frequent nocturnal urination High blood pressure Falling asleep while driving Loss of energy Anxiety or depression Risk Factors These factors can raise the risk of developing apnea: Age: You are over age 50. Gender: OSA is more common in men, and until the age of menopause in women. Family history: If someone in your family has sleep apnea, your likelihood increases. Low activity level: Exercise can improve sleep apnea. Being overweight: Even 10% to 20% weight loss can help with sleep apnea. Use of sedatives: These should be avoided, along with alcohol, before bed. Diagnosing Sleep Apnea An overnight sleep study at a sleep center clinic is the gold standard to diagnose sleep apnea. Painless electrodes and sensors placed on different points on the body—called polysomnography—are used. Home-use devices can study heart and breathing rate and blood oxygen levels; positive results will require a full study in a sleep center clinic. Treatment Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is commonly used to treat apnea. Patients wear a device, containing a mask with a hose, over the nose when sleeping. A small, quiet air compressor creates pressure that splints the airway open to eliminate snoring and prevent oxygen levels from dropping in the blood. This allows normal cycling through sleep stages, so users wake up refreshed and can stay alert during the day. Other treatment options include weight loss, oral appliances, hypoglossal nerve stimulation that involves an implant, and other ear, nose, and throat surgeries. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, don’t endure more sleepless nights—consult a healthcare professional. You’ll find the right treatment solution that improves your quality of life. This post originally ran in the Enquirer-Gazette. Authors Timothy Lady, RRT. Luminis Health offers comprehensive, fully integrated services for patients with sleep disorders.0
- Behavioral Health, Community, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe heroin epidemic is a national problem that hits close to home in Anne Arundel County. According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, heroin-related deaths in the county have increased by 128 percent between 2010 and 2013. The rate of heroin use here is 5.5 percent for youths ages 16 and 17 and 10.7 percent for adults age 18 and older. Both of these numbers are above the averages for the state of Maryland. The Danger of Opioids Fueling the epidemic are opioids. Opioids come in two main forms: prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet and illegal drugs like heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is writing new guidelines for physicians to explore other options before prescribing opioids. Still, many people already have a prescription for opioids. In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills, according to the CDC. Not everyone who takes opioids gets addicted. However, everyone develops tolerance and some may start to crave these drugs. Opioid use can lead to risk of falls, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, interaction with other medications and potentially fatal overdoses. Suboxone: A Safe Solution Quitting opioids “cold turkey” is painful and dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms start around 12 hours after someone stops using opioids. Symptoms can include stomach pain, anxiety, body pain, chills, diarrhea, nausea, sweating, insomnia, weakness and more. For people dependent on opioids, Suboxone can help. Suboxone is a medication that helps people safely stop opioid use by reducing withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. The medication also blocks the effects of other opioids. Suboxone treatment not only allows people to safely withdraw from opioids with little discomfort, it helps manage other health issues related to opioid use. Suboxone treatment also links people with professional counselors. Counselors can help people develop coping skills and behaviors to prevent setbacks. Only qualified, licensed doctors can prescribe Suboxone. Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s substance use and mental health treatment center, offers both inpatient and outpatient Suboxone treatment. Both programs begin with a phone call to understand the patient’s needs. Based on the phone call, we recommend either inpatient or outpatient care. The opioid epidemic is complex, and the solution is not simple. At Pathways, we believe we can begin to turn this public health crisis around by working together with other healthcare professionals, our community partners and our patients. For more information on Suboxone treatment and other options available through Pathways, visit PathwaysProgram.org.0
- Location232381tel:(410) 224-4442185 Harry S. Truman Pkwy, Ste 120, Annapolis, MD 21401Our team has expertise in all aspects of high-risk maternal and fetal medical conditions and/or obstetrical complications. By using state-of-the-art ultrasound and diagnostic tests, we evaluate your health and the health of your baby before delivery. Our specialists then work closely with you and your OB-GYN to develop a plan of care tailored to your personal needs and medical history. Our goal is to ensure you understand your medical conditions and the options available to you in order to have the best possible outcome of your pregnancy., Our practice offers a full spectrum of prenatal diagnosis and care for you and your baby from conception until birth. Our experienced physicians, genetic counselors, sonographers and nurses ensure the best possible care in a warm and caring environment. Obstetricians refer patients to us for many reasons. These may include management of twins or triplets, determining carrier status of various genetic conditions, monitoring you for incompetent cervix and pre-term labor, counseling for age related risks, screening for Down syndrome and many other issues. Sometimes a single sonogram is enough to set your mind at ease. Other times we will continue to see you throughout your pregnancy. Our team of physicians and counselors work closely with your obstetrician. Following each visit to our office, a report of your sonogram and any recommendations from our physicians, are sent to your obstetrician. At each visit with your obstetrician, you can discuss with him/her the findings and progress of your pregnancy. Your obstetrician remains your primary care-giver and will continue to see you for your regular visits and in most cases the delivery of your baby. Our services include: Amniocentesis & CVS : Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) are invasive prenatal tests that are most commonly performed to evaluate the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Ultrasonography : Our skilled sonographers use diagnostic imaging (ultrasound) technology to help increase the information available to your physicians. Genetic Counseling and Testing : Those at risk of an inherited disorder are advised of the implications and the nature of the disorder, the chance of recurrence, and their options for management and family planning. Fetal Echocardiography : Patients with risk factors for fetal congenital heart disease should have a detailed fetal echocardiogram performed and evaluated by one of our physicians. Diabetes Education and Monitoring : Because diabetes requires day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, monitoring, and medication, our staff stands ready to assist you with maintaining diabetic control, reducing risk factors for your baby. Antenatal Testing : Antenatal screening and diagnostic screening, to include biophysical profile and fetal nonstress testing, helps to increase the level of information available to your physicians to help ensure the health of both you and your baby. Preconception Counseling : We work with you to identify and reduce social, behavioral, environmental, and biomedical risks to your fertility and pregnancy outcome.0
- Location231046tel:(410) 224-444228438 Marlboro Ave, Easton, MD 21601Our team has expertise in all aspects of high-risk maternal and fetal medical conditions and/or obstetrical complications. By using state-of-the-art ultrasound and diagnostic tests, we evaluate your health and the health of your baby before delivery. Our specialists then work closely with you and your OB-GYN to develop a plan of care tailored to your personal needs and medical history. Our goal is to ensure you understand your medical conditions and the options available to you in order to have the best possible outcome of your pregnancy., Our practice offers a full spectrum of prenatal diagnosis and care for you and your baby from conception until birth. Our experienced physicians, genetic counselors, sonographers and nurses ensure the best possible care in a warm and caring environment. Obstetricians refer patients to us for many reasons. These may include management of twins or triplets, determining carrier status of various genetic conditions, monitoring you for incompetent cervix and pre-term labor, counseling for age related risks, screening for Down syndrome and many other issues. Sometimes a single sonogram is enough to set your mind at ease. Other times we will continue to see you throughout your pregnancy. Our team of physicians and counselors work closely with your obstetrician. Following each visit to our office, a report of your sonogram and any recommendations from our physicians, are sent to your obstetrician. At each visit with your obstetrician, you can discuss with him/her the findings and progress of your pregnancy. Your obstetrician remains your primary care-giver and will continue to see you for your regular visits and in most cases the delivery of your baby. Our services include: Amniocentesis & CVS : Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) are invasive prenatal tests that are most commonly performed to evaluate the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Ultrasonography : Our skilled sonographers use diagnostic imaging (ultrasound) technology to help increase the information available to your physicians. Genetic Counseling and Testing : Those at risk of an inherited disorder are advised of the implications and the nature of the disorder, the chance of recurrence, and their options for management and family planning. Fetal Echocardiography : Patients with risk factors for fetal congenital heart disease should have a detailed fetal echocardiogram performed and evaluated by one of our physicians. Diabetes Education and Monitoring : Because diabetes requires day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, monitoring, and medication, our staff stands ready to assist you with maintaining diabetic control, reducing risk factors for your baby. Antenatal Testing : Antenatal screening and diagnostic screening, to include biophysical profile and fetal nonstress testing, helps to increase the level of information available to your physicians to help ensure the health of both you and your baby. Preconception Counseling : We work with you to identify and reduce social, behavioral, environmental, and biomedical risks to your fertility and pregnancy outcome.0
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